Sat Jan 03 12:31:44 UTC 2026: News Article:
Telangana Court Order Blocks Training for Rural Medical Practitioners Amidst Debate on Healthcare Access
Hyderabad – January 3, 2026 – A heated debate erupted in the Telangana Legislative Council on Saturday concerning the potential training and certification of Rural Medical Practitioners (RMPs) and Paramedical Practitioners (PMPs) to bolster healthcare services in rural areas. The discussion highlighted the persistent challenge of providing accessible and affordable healthcare to underserved communities.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Council Member Takkallapalli Ravinder Rao raised concerns about the inadequacy of healthcare access in rural and semi-urban regions, compelling vulnerable populations to seek expensive private alternatives. He noted shortcomings in government facilities, including doctor shortages, medicine availability, and infrastructural deficits. Rao referenced past government orders from the united Andhra Pradesh era that proposed structured training for RMPs and PMPs to act as primary healthcare providers.
However, Health Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha clarified that the government is legally bound by existing court orders that restrict such initiatives. He stated that previous attempts to train RMPs and PMPs were challenged in court by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), culminating in a High Court injunction preventing the state from training or certifying these practitioners to administer allopathic medicine. While acknowledging the constraints, the Minister assured that the issue would be revisited from a legal perspective to explore permissible avenues.
Members of the established medical community vehemently opposed the proposal. Dr. G. Srinivas, Vice-Chairman of the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC), argued that Telangana now has a sufficient number of qualified doctors, and legitimizing unqualified practitioners would only institutionalize quackery. He instead advocated for strengthening the existing public healthcare system.
Dr. Kiran Madala of the IMA Telangana State branch echoed these concerns, warning of potential patient safety risks from allowing even limited certification for RMPs and PMPs. He emphasized the availability of qualified doctors seeking employment and cautioned that allowing unqualified practitioners to practice, even at a basic level, could lead to the unsupervised administration of medications and procedures.
The debate underscores the complex challenge of balancing the need for accessible healthcare with the potential risks of allowing unqualified individuals to practice medicine. The Telangana government’s next steps will be closely watched as it navigates the legal constraints and seeks to address the healthcare needs of its rural population.
Summary of Text:
The Telangana Legislative Council debated the possibility of training and certifying Rural Medical Practitioners (RMPs) and Paramedical Practitioners (PMPs) to improve rural healthcare access. However, the Health Minister stated that existing court orders, prompted by legal challenges from medical associations, prevent such training programs. Medical professionals argue that Telangana has enough qualified doctors and that certifying unqualified practitioners would be unsafe. The debate highlights the tension between accessibility and patient safety in rural healthcare.
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